TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: Peter D. Lear, CPA, CGMA, City Manager
TITLE: Approve the Presentation of a Key to the City to Commissioner Carusone at the November 14, 2020 Special Meeting
Recommended Action
Approve the Presentation of a Key to the City to Commissioner Carusone at the November 14, 2020 Special Meeting.
Background Information
Former Commissioner Christopher Hanks requested that Commissioner Vanessa Carusone be presented a key to the City. As a resident and business owner, Vanessa Carusone became interested in serving the City as a commissioner after she didn't like some of the regulations on local businesses. She ran for office and won, and now is the longest serving commissioner in the City of North Port. She helped make the City more friendly for businesses opening in a City of 20,000. She helped organize citywide events, including Relay for Life, the Little Miss North Port Pageant through the Kiwanis Club, Easter egg hunts, and fundraisers for families in need following a disaster or medical situation.
During her service, she served on the Sarasota County Planning Commission, Sarasota County Substance Abuse Committee, South County on Substance Abuse Committee, YMCA Board of Directors, and North Port's Community Health Action Team. She campaigned for local and countywide initiatives involving HIPPA, ethics, Sunshine and Public Records Law, record research and archival, legislative advocacy with local, state and federal legislation, and creation of not-for-profit entities. She helped with legislation to protect children in foster care, was a staunch supporter of keeping North Port Social Services intact for local residents and worked with Juvenile Justice to reduce recidivism among at-risk teenagers. Through Holly's Hope, she bridged the gap to bring Teen Court to City Hall. She volunteers anywhere needed in a City that now has more than 77,000 people, including 10,000 school-age children, whom she will...
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